Well, my dears… everything is packed up, the movers are coming today… the office is cleaned out. The tickets bought. On Wednesday, Rocky and I are moving to Chicago… and while I’ll miss it here in Germany, I’m happy to be going back to a city, it’s been quite difficult maintaining a blog about fashion in a small village outside of Frankfurt. So, with changes, I’ve been revisiting my life, in packing up my belongings I’ve unearthed some hidden treasures, and let go of some things that have just taken up space.
What I’m Wearing
This dress I got at H&M a few years back, and I probably wear it once, or twice a year I don’t know why I wear it more…but since yesterday’s post about 20′s inspired fashion and minipleats, and the summery weather out, it seemed like the perfect thing to wear.
What I’m doing when I’m not online…
I haven’t drawn anything in 15 years. Seriously, it’s been that long. When I was in high school, I dreamed of being an artist, but I was really insecure about my work, because I thought I ‘couldn’t draw’. In my first attempt at college I had a bitchy teacher and, well, took things personally, when really, it wasn’t personal at all, and I decided to do something else. Lately, I’ve been wanting to do something with my hands, something completely analog, and something just for fun. So last night, I picked up a pencil, opened up a magazine (Zoo #23) and drew this. Yeah, it looks like something an 8th grader did… but what the hell… it was fun!
What I’m reading…
This book should really be titled ‘Children of the Corn’. Before I moved to Germany, I picked up The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, but it never got read. I really love reading, especially since I’ve started blogging… I find that I read more now than at any other point in my life.
So far, half way through the book, Michael Pollan has immersed us in a world of genetically modified corn that’s basically in everything we eat. When run through a mass spectrotmeter for traces of corn carbon, a McDonald’s cheeseburger is made up of 52% corn carbon and there’s not a single visible kernel.
The book is really great, though it kind of leaves me feeling the same claustrophobia NOLOGO did, with the no escape from corporate globalization. But looking back at how hopeless things seemed in 2000, and today we have so many small businesses and handmade products available, thanks to the internet… I’m wondering if books like these will bring awareness and change to the way we eat.
What I’m eating…
What I’m going to miss… is walks in the forest, bike rides in the forest, the trees, the lake, the quiet. Right now, the blackberries are ripening, and the other day I just had to pick a handful on a whim. There is nothing like eating hand picked berries from the forest… it reminds me of childhood, when I would go out and play in the forest, eat blackberries and pretend I was a forest nymph.
What things in your life need to be revisited?
What’s stopping you? Do tell…
{ 45 comments }
The drawing is stunning. No matter where you live, you will always be that fashionista that inspires others like me! I love the roaring 20s outfit!
.-= Sweety P´s last blog ..Google Disappoints, but New Blog is Born =-.
I adored this post, lady! It’s wonderful to see the more personal sides of your life like this, to see what you’re reading and thinking about, what else you’re doing.
I’m excited that so many people I <3 will be in Chicago now! Makes me think a longer trip up there needs to happen soon…
.-= Ashe Mischief´s last blog ..B&Lu Review: Raquel Dress =-.
I loved “Omnivore’s Dilemma”. It opened my eyes to how much high fructose corn syrup is in our daily diets. I now try to avoid it at all costs. Best of luck with your move! Chicago is a great city.
Such a beautiful post. Totally empathise on the whole difficulty-blogging-in-a-rural-area issue…I’m back home for the Summer and it’s not exactly sartorially inspiring!
One good thing, though, we DO have blackberries just by the house here…
/Male-Mode.com
.-= Male-Mode´s last blog ..Tween AW09: No pre-adolescence jokes, please. =-.
This is a very sweet post! Good luck with your move, and welcome back to the States!
p.s. those blackberries look amazing..
.-= PAPERFASHION´s last blog ..GIVEAWAY =-.
Yay for drawing!
I’ve lately been trying to make myself pick up my sketchbook more often than I have in the past 9 months… it’s been so liberating to just *draw* and not get hung up on anything. 
Good luck with the move and safe travel!
.-= Casey´s last blog ..inspiration week #90 =-.
;( oooh, i will miss you two but since some brilliant guys have invented airplanes and the worldwideweb, i can see, there is light
and this look fits you perfectly!
big hug from frankfurto
Best of luck with the move. I can totally relate to reading a lot more since I started blogging. It’s something I love to revisit! Loving the flapper-esque dress!
.-= Fajr || Stylish Thought´s last blog ..Who Wears the Pants? A Tale of Boyfriend Jeans =-.
OH! save travels and good luck with the move …
The picture of you with the dress and the painting is great!
.-= Liv Lundelius´s last blog ..if Liv would go on holiday… =-.
You’re going to LOVE Chicago, beautiful. Best of luck with the move … hope it all goes smoothly!
.-= Sal´s last blog ..Finding Your Exercise Bliss =-.
Best to you during the move. And lovely illustrations.
Love Grace.
.-= Grace´s last blog ..And now a little improv =-.
What’s funny is I just bought myself a new sketchbook yesterday. I used to draw and do watercolor paintings and like you I was discouraged my a teacher long time ago. My parents have one of my paintings matted and framed at their house & people are amazed that I painted it. So I’m revisiting my artist side. My new goals is to do something creative every day. And welcome back to the US! I hope I get to see you again!
.-= DWJ´s last blog ..Friday’s Fabulousness… =-.
You look so chic! Glad you’re moving back closer to me
.-= WendyB´s last blog ..Summer Colors on Allison =-.
That dress is adorable, you look really sweet!
Keep up with the drawings, the one you posted is great!
.-= Sonia Luna´s last blog ..Inspired: =-.
❤ sweety…oh thank you! i hope to have more inspiration in the city… we’ll see!
❤ ashe… it’s weird, i dont’ normallly think of my life as anything really postworthy.. so this is a stretch… but i’m glad you like it… and i REALLY hope to see you in chicago in the near future!
❤ couture allure..omg the HFCS is freaking me out!
❤ malemode…heh… it’s a hard trade off isn’t it? i’ve lived in the city all my adult life, so being here has been a challenge…no reason to dress up! nobody else is dressed up! oy…
❤ paper… blackberries are amazing..
❤ susii…you haven’t seen the last of us!
❤ fajr.. i think it boils down to practice, before blogging i just watched tv for entertainment, now i read.. a total switch.
❤ liv…oh the painting is great, i’m going to miss it!
❤ sal..oh i hope so! i’ve never really been to the midwest
❤ thank you grace!
❤ dwj…gosh, i’m sorry to hear that, teachers have no idea how much they really effect their students, well some anyway…
❤ wendy, oh it’s no coincidence!
❤ sonja…oh thank you… i’m going to try, but thank you so much for the encouragement!
I love this post – what you’re wearing, reading, doing – all the product of reflection. It’s a time to look back and move forward. Beautiful!
.-= K-Line´s last blog ..Fait A-Cassis =-.
All the best for your next move to Chicago. Love this post! A lot of things in my life need to be revisited… and writing scripts and shooting videos are what I plan to do!
.-= Miss Glitzy´s last blog ..My Shoes Are So… Fabulous! =-.
Oh, I love Chicago! I hope you have a stress free move!! I’m moving to Ann Arbor in a week and a half!!
.-= maria´s last blog ..What I Love… =-.
jennine! i discovered your blog – a wonderful one it is. i’m envious of your move to chicago – i moved to the wild west from there. the beauty of chicago is that it’s in the middle of everything. so if you want gorgeous country and farmland, it’s not that far away. let me know if you’d like some good places to go!
bon voyage!
.-= alexandra keller´s last blog ..necklaces =-.
Love your shoes, and love knowing what’s going on with your life. Blackberries are the bestest!
.-= Wanderlusting´s last blog ..The Glass Slippers – a fairy tale =-.
Your drawing looks great! Enjoy reading the Onmivore’s Dilemma, too. And welcome to Chicago! I hope you enjoy living here.
For me, I’ve stopped writing (other than my blog) totally and now I’m just starting up again. Not sure what’s stopping me, but there’s some block there.
.-= Sheena´s last blog ..10 Things About My Style =-.
wow, can i say this is my favourite outfit of yours so far? you look great.
that book scares me, i think i might never read it! i’m one of those people who can’t eat gluten, can’t eat dairy, can’t drink wine, beer or alcohol from most grains… can’t can’t can’t and so on. i can eat corn! our bodies have changed so much from what the we have done to the environment. finding out i had these intolerances changed my life for the better in some ways but sometimes it is seriously sad! no cheese!
best wishes on your trip. i look forward to urban bloggings!
Hey welcome to the midwest! im in columbus ohio -moved here in april and am loving it, let me know if you ever travel to ohio, good luck with the move
wow, best of luck with the moving process! i love what your wearing and your activities. I’d die for some fresh blackberries right now..
xx-LJ from SOS!
Good luck with the move and your drawing. Be safe.
.-= thefatandskinny´s last blog ..Hate It or Love it =-.
And I love the shoes with the dress! Have you seen King Corn? Frightening! The ag lobby is really powerful, but I agree with you that hope lies in education and small farms and food businesses.
.-= fashion herald´s last blog ..Daffy’s, The Fall Fashion Preview =-.
Thank you! You often write very interesting articles. You improved my mood.
I like that you separate fate from destiny. There is something to be said for trying to account for the idea that we can sometimes fail to fulfill our destiny.
oh man how nice it must be to just go outside and pick fresh blackberries! the ones at the store are just not quite as good. omgosh I’ve doubted my art abilities as well! I really want to do something with art but I’m pretty sure I suck. that sketch isn’t bad at all, by the way! really impressive, actually…
Good luck with the move. Chicago is the best.(I live there!) I’m excited to read about what treasures and places you unearth from this busy city.
.-= niki´s last blog ..Porter & Hollister Hovey =-.
1 -You look fabulous in the top image.
2- Yes, I think it took me two year to get through the Omnivore’s Dilemma. But it was worth it and a great, but very thick & serious book. It’s the kind of book that stays with you always I think. -we’ll see…
You are going to love Chicago! I recently launched an emerging art+fashion blog in chicago. We have a great art community here. I would love to show you around!
.-= Dana´s last blog ..Constructed realities =-.
I imagine there’s going to be a lot you’ll miss about Germany. I’d forgo the hustle of the city to hop on a bike in search of handful of blackberries…
.-= Imelda Matt´s last blog ..CLOSE ENCOUNTERS =-.
oh my goodness, i had no idea there were so many mid-westerners here! it makes me feel good to know you’re all near by!
❤swan…oh yeah, the book is talking about a specific kind of corn, that doesn’t have any particular nutritional value, yet accounts for such a large portion of our daily calories. i also don’t like the ‘don’t eat this, don’t eat that’ without having a solution…
❤lucy… so true, wild blackberries are so yummy.
❤angelina… exactly! i can only get through 10 pages at a time witout going… whow!
❤imelda… haahhaaa well, going for a few days is cool, but going for a year and a half not even black berries are worth it…
Good luck with the move my lovely!
.-= Retro Chick´s last blog ..Fashion Fairy Tales… =-.
I didn’t know that you life in Germany. I love your shoes. They are so Coco Chanel. Where did you get them?
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Coco Chanel Special =-.
Awesome shoes… best of lück on the flight! xoxox <3 Üdo
.-= Üdo ´s last blog ..Elizabeth Gilbert – Nurturing Creativity =-.
Great post! I love the photos you took and the drawing is stunning. You are seriously talented! Have a great trip/move.
.-= Carla´s last blog ..Two Great Green Living Blogs =-.
Here’s an early welcome to the windy city! I’m not from here, so I can be unbiased when I say Chicago is a great city! It’s compact, friendly, has good shopping and lots to do year round. Good luck the move, hopefully it all goes smoothly so you two can start exploring.
.-= tanvi´s last blog ..Love of Landscape =-.
Safe Travels!
You look smashing in that dress
.-= Eunice´s last blog ..six years ago… =-.
you -again- look wonderful. the shoes have already got some compliments, so I just follow the others: they are just plain beautiful.
it’s a pity that you leave germany by now, but maybe you’ll be back some day
i enjoyed that you stayed on the fashion edge even though you lived quite rural – as I moved to the fashion deserts of south germany, it cheered me up quite a lot to take a look on your way of life (and somehow also got sort of role modeling to me).
take care. a.
.-= AnOc´s last blog ..small town sky =-.
Have a safe move!!!
ive missed your blog so much… my laptop went kapoot on me, anyway I hope you have a safe and happy move, you looks lovely as always, also your drawing is fantastic, i reckon you should sell them in your etsy shop.
That dress is amazing…what a pretty post (blackberries?? YUM!!). I’m excited to see how you like Chicago! How long were you in San Francisco, do you mind me asking? I love how adventurous you are, picking up and moving all over the world! I’ve been in SF for 18 years now (YIPES!!!!!) and while I love it ever so, I’m feeling a little wanderlust.
Bon voyage miss jennine!
.-= miss alex´s last blog ..Pretty Little Ray of Sunshine. =-.